How to Ride and Mount a Unicycle

Last Updated: October 5, 2021 References

Learning to ride a unicycle is easier than it might seem. (Of course, it looks impossible!) Few people learn to ride one in 24 hours. Sixty-somethings have learned to ride. Unicycles are relatively inexpensive, are good exercise, and are compact and can be taken just about anywhere. And, of course, there's always the WOW factor! So, here's how to get started.

Steps

1
Buy a good quality unicycle. There are a lot of cheap unicycles that make learning to ride difficult, the seats are poorly designed, and will they break quickly.^{[1]
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Get the right wheel size. You will almost surely start with a 20" or a 24" wheel.^{[2]
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3
Set up your unicycle properly. The seat height is critical: you should be able to reach the bottom pedal, with just a small crook in your knee. Get an extension on the post if needed. The post itself should be easily adjustable. Make sure the pedals are rubber (and not metal). It's hard enough to learn, without doing it on a cheap, poorly-setup unicycle!^{[3]
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4
Buy (and use) safety equipment. Heavy duty hand pads are a must! Knee pads are an option, but, you don’t want to restrict your movements either. Very well padded shorts are highly recommended: you are going to land on the pavement a lot at first! Depending on your athleticism, you may want to consider a helmet.
5
Find a suitable site for learning to ride. Someplace you can hold on to, but, won’t get hurt (and won’t hurt someone else). Tennis nets, a wall, or a smooth fence, are good: you want a barrier where you can ride along and hold on to something safely.
- Holding on to a friend or a post, is a very poor substitute, and not recommended (unless the friend enjoys getting his shins hit with your pedals).
6
Practice for 15 minutes or so, once or twice a day. There’s little point in practicing for hours on end immediately: your body seems to learn between your work-outs.
7
Align the pedal cranks vertically to the ground when you mount a unicycle. (One pedal will be as close to the ground as is possible, while the uni is upright.) Step on that pedal with the foot of your weaker leg. Throw your leg over the seat, and sit on the uni. Then, step on the other pedal. Pull yourself up while holding onto something for support.^{[4]
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8
Start by learning to sit on the unicycle. The first time you get up on your uni, just concentrate on sitting on it, while holding on to something. Rotate the wheels ½ turn forward and backward. All your weight should be, on the floor of your pelvis (and not on your thighs or calves). Trust me, you’re not going to ride off anywhere immediately! Just concentrate on getting the feel of your vehicle.^{[5]
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Try riding forward next. When you are comfortable with sitting on the uni, begin to try to ride forward. Expect that you will fall off. At first, you will hardly go a full revolution of the wheel, actually. But, with practice, will come perfection or at least, a few revolutions!^{[6]
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Don’t give up! You will advance from, a few revolutions, to, riding off into the sunset, quite quickly. One day, it will just…suddenly happen! You'll be riding a unicycle!
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Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

Should I give up? I've been trying to ride my unicycle for over 3 years.

Community Answer

No! Never give up. Keep trying, and see if you can find anyone offering unicycle lessons in your area.
Question

Does the tire size matter when learning to ride?

Community Answer

You want to use a tire that is thinner so that it's easier to ride. The tire should also come up to the rider's knee to waist. You might want to sit on the bike first and see if your legs reach the pedals. If not, try a smaller sized bike. If your legs bend uncomfortably when on pedals, you need a bigger bike.
Question

How do I pedal it?

Community Answer

You have to keep forward momentum in line with the pedals. It's not so much "go fast", but practicing, thinking, and balancing.

Warnings

Don't give up! Most children (over 7) and teenagers learn to ride quite quickly. For adults, learning can take much longer, possibly weeks. However, anyone who can walk, can usually ride a unicycle (because both depend on shifting your weight from side to side).

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Injury: Depending on your age, and the size of your unicycle, injury is always a possibility. If you are about to take a long trip, start an important job, or similar, this is probably not the time to learn to ride.

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Don't practice in an isolated area. If you fall, you may be unable to get help.

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